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The UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship serves as the “nexus for entrepreneurship education and research—and as a springboard for entrepreneurial initiatives on the UC Davis campus”. The institute brings both students and faculty members together with experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate leaders in a highly collaborative environment. The institute provides researchers, MBA students, and other faculty members with the necessary skills and resources to turn their ideas (ideas that may normally stay confined to a lab or office) into action, bringing them out into the world. In the same vein, UC Davis houses the UC Entrepreneurship Academy, a three-day program for commercializing science and engineering innovations. The academy facilitates moving research out of the lab and into the world, by offering its participants an intensive opportunity to explore market opportunities surrounding their ideas and research - something incredibly useful for individuals looking to move from the phase of planning and initial research done in a university setting to the phase of testing for viability in an industry setting. Daily seminars and interactive sessions are taught by investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts selected to serve as mentors to program participants. Both the institute and the academy serve as central gateways between industry and the UC Davis community.

Though the city of Davis itself doesn’t have a terribly strong foothold in the entrepreneurial world, we are located next to our state’s capital, where opportunities are growing exponentially. Several events and activities in Sacramento encourage entrepreneurs to come together - the Startup Digest, Startup Grind, Code 4 Sacramento, Sacramento Game Devs, Women who Code, Women in Data, Square Root Academy, StartupSac, Operation Innovate, Health 2.0, and Yellow Circle are just a few examples. Sacramento based coworking spaces include The Workshop, Workflow Lounge, Innogrove, The Makers Place, Suite 210, The Blocs, the McClellan Innovation Center, the Hacker Lab, the Urban Hive, and Amen Coworking. As far as accelerators and incubators go, residents from around the region can seek support from CleanStart, Green Screen Institute, Founder Academy, Founder Institute, FourthWave, Willow Tree Roots, Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy, AgStart, MedStart, Video Lab West, and Davis Roots. Civic programs include MedZone, RAILS, SUTL, the Mayor’s Office for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, SBA, SBDC, GSEC, Sacramento iHub, and Tech Futures Group. Funding opportunities can be found through Impact Venture Capital, Central Valley Fund, AGR Partners, Akers Capital, Silicon Bay Partners, Sierra Angels, Sacramento Angels, Almond Tree Capital, the Davis Funding Club, DCS Capital, Blacktop Capital, Haney Biz, Black Angel Tech Fund, and Moneta Ventures.